Leave it to Ariana Grande to cause worldwide freakout after casually dropped her new single “thank u, next” after teasing to her fans that she was indeed back in the studio making new music a few months after releasing her last album, sweetener. But a lot has happened since then, from the sudden passing of her ex-boyfriend Mac Miller to calling off her engagement from Pete Davidson. And all of that is addressed in the power anthem that is “thank u, next” that proves how the 25-year-old songstress truly is the queen of taking hardships and channeling the pain into something positive we can all learn from.

Ari doesn’t hold back in the song, opening the track by calling out her famous former loves and what she learned from each relationship. It’s not an angry diss song to these songs though; she really is thankful for the life lessons got from her time with each guy as each experience has helped shape the woman she is today.

“Thought I’d end up with Sean
But he wasn’t a match
Wrote some songs about Ricky
Now I listen and laugh
Even almost got married
And for Pete, I’m so thankful
Wish I could say, ‘Thank you’ to Malcolm
‘Cause he was an angel”

“One taught me love
One taught me patience
And one taught me pain
Now, I’m so amazing
I’ve loved and I’ve lost
But that’s not what I see
So, look what I got
Look what you taught me
And for that, I say”

Ariana reflects on how she thought rapper Big Sean, 30, was the one, but he ended up not being her perfect match; her romance with her former backup dancer Ricky Alvarez inspired some songs, but again, he wasn’t the one; she acknowledges her broken engagement and says she’s thankful to Pete; and lastly, she wishes she could thank Mac, whose real name was Malcolm, since he was an “angel” to her. And that lyric just got everyone right in the heart.

Ariana goes on to sing how she’s grateful for all her exes because they taught her about love, patience, and pain, but there’s someone else who has her heart now who she’s learned even more from. And that’s herself.

“Spend more time with my friends
I ain’t worried ’bout nothin’
Plus, I met someone else
We havin’ better discussions
I know they say I move on too fast
But this one gon’ last
‘Cause her name is Ari
And I’m so good with that (So good with that)

She taught me love (Love)
She taught me patience (Patience)
How she handles pain (Pain)
That s–t’s amazing (Yeah, she’s amazing)
I’ve loved and I’ve lost (Yeah, yeah)
But that’s not what I see (Yeah, yeah)
‘Cause look what I’ve found (Yeah, yeah)
Ain’t no need for searching, and for that, I say

Thank you, next (Next)
Thank you, next (Next)
Thank you, next
I’m so f–kin’ grateful for my ex”

The singer is all about that single life right now, as she’s realizing she is the one person who will always be there and can love her unlike anyone else. A self-love anthem anyone can appreciate right here! As for her ex-boyfriends’ reactions to being straight-up name-dropped in the song? Ariana took to Twitter to let everyone know that Sean and Ricky heard it before it was released, so it seems like she got their seal of approval.

 

And tbh, it’s pretty amazing she even let them get a sneak preview because it is her song after all! And what about Pete? Well, it’s unclear if he heard the track before she dropped it, which was a half hour before the latest episode of his show Saturday Night Live was set to air. But the 24-year-old comedian did address their split on SNL.

“I know some of you are curious about the breakup but the truth is, it’s nobody’s business and sometimes things just don’t work out and that’s okay. She is a wonderful, strong person and I genuinely wish her all the happiness in the world. Now please, go vote on Tuesday,” he said, adding, “I’m still a good song though,” referencing the track on Ari’s sweetener album called “pete davidson.” He hasn’t shared his thoughts on “thank u, next” yet, but we have a feeling he won’t really mind as Ariana took the high road when it came to singing about her past loves. It is interesting to note she didn’t mention all of her exes though in the song though. Noticeably missing are Jai Brooks and Nathan Sykes, which could be for a few reasons. Those relationships happened when Ariana was much younger and perhaps aren’t serious in her eyes as these last four were for her.

Regardless, Ari has created a “smash” of a song as she calls it. Queen.

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